Buying a homeJuly 18, 2018How do you maintain a second home if it’s far away?How can you keep your second home repaired and maintained and repaired from a distance?
RentersJuly 17, 2018Renting vs buying: Which costs more today?Check a rent vs buy calculator when considering renting vs buying. See how the numbers work out upfront and over the long term.
FICO & Credit ScoresJuly 17, 2018Credit score ranges: excellent, good, fair, poorCredit score ranges determine how creditors, insurers and even employers look at you. What is a good credit score, and how can you get there?
Real Estate NewsJuly 17, 2018The best cities for first-time homebuyersRising house prices and a lack of starter home inventory has made things difficult for today’s first-time homebuyers, but according to new data, there are still some places where first-timers can get a deal. The No. 1 best place? That’d be Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Buying a homeJuly 17, 2018What happens when I’m “clear to close”?Being clear to close (CTC) means you have satisfied all the lender's requirements and can get your loan documents and close any time.
Real Estate NewsJuly 16, 2018Millennial credit scores aren’t perfect – but they’re still buying homesMillennials now make up the biggest share of homebuyers in the country, but their credit is far from perfect. In fact, according to new data, average credit scores of Millennial homebuyers ranged from 662 to upwards of 750, depending on the city.
About MortgagesJuly 16, 2018Can I make up for bad credit with a high income and down payment?What's more important for a mortgage: income or credit scores? Both, but even people who earn a lot of money can't get a loan without decent credit. Here's why.
About MortgagesJuly 16, 2018Mortgage underwriting: What are “conditions” and how do I satisfy them?You will encounter mortgage underwriting conditions at almost every step of the mortgage process. But being prepared in advance can minimize the number of requests, and the hassle of meeting them.
UncategorizedJuly 14, 2018Home remodeling: How to finance your projectHome remodeling isn't always easy, and financing home improvements can be intimidating. But it's not that hard -- you don't even need home equity to do it.
About MortgagesJuly 14, 2018How to decipher the stack of mortgage loan disclosures from your lenderThe most confusing mortgage disclosures are no longer completely awful to navigate. Actually, they are pretty easy, once you understand a couple of things.
UncategorizedJuly 13, 2018Home improvement: which projects to DIY, which to hire outWhich home improvement projects can you do yourself, and which should you hire out?
About MortgagesJuly 13, 2018Buying a home: How do you know that you’re getting a good house?How do you know that you're getting a good house when buying a home? Look at marketability, safety, and functionality, and get professional help when you need it.
Real Estate NewsJuly 12, 2018Moving out of state: Here’s where Americans are migratingOut of state moves are on the rise and according to a new analysis, Washington, D.C., North Dakota and Wyoming are the top destinations. A whopping 9.1 percent of D.C.’s current population moved from another state in within the last five years.
Buying a homeJuly 11, 2018What’s in a home inspection report?A home inspection can find a home's hidden defects before you buy it. Here's what to expect on your report, and how to read it.
Real Estate NewsJuly 11, 2018Average rents hit all-time high — even in small townsHome prices might be up, but rents aren’t any better. In fact, according to new data, the average rents clocked in at $1,405 last month--the country’s highest rents of all time.
Real Estate NewsJuly 10, 2018Selling a house in the summer? These features can help you do it — and for more cashPutting your home on the market? Selling a house for a client this summer? According to a recent study, certain outdoor features can help you do — and get more money in the process.
Buying a homeJuly 10, 2018How do I finalize my offer to buy a home?To buy a home, you need an offer and acceptance. Here's how to finalize your offer to purchase a home.
Mortgage RatesJuly 9, 20185 ways to get a lower mortgage rateToday's mortgage rates are low, but you can get an even more affordable mortgage with a few adjustments to your mortgage borrower profile.
Buying a homeJuly 9, 2018HOA rules: Check your CC&Rs early to avoid buyer’s remorseHOA rules can make your new condo or home a relaxing haven. But your HOA could also be a micromanaging, fine-levying bully. Here's how to avoid HOA problems when you buy a home.
Real Estate NewsJuly 9, 2018Construction jobs rise; will housing inventory do the same?The latest news out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics may bode well for the housing market — and Americans looking to buy into it. According to the BLS’s recent jobs report, construction employment was up by 13,000 in June and has risen more than 280,000 since the start of the year.